Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Oct. 26, 2012		Oct. 28, 2011		Oct. 26, 2012		Oct. 28, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 4,095		$ 4,023		$ 8,103		$ 7,969
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	1,020		960		1,993		1,911
Research and development expense	387		371		772		733
Selling, general, and administrative expense	1,417		1,410		2,822		2,790
Certain litigation charges, net	245		0		245		0
Acquisition-related items	6		(24)		11		(16)
Amortization of intangible assets	79		85		159		171
Other expense, net	63		140		102		249
Interest expense, net	24		38		57		70
Total costs and expenses	3,241		2,980		6,161		5,908
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	854		1,043		1,942		2,061
Provision for income taxes	208		179		432		378
Earnings from continuing operations	646		864		1,510		1,683
Discontinued operations, net of tax:
Earnings from operations of Physio-Control	0		12		0		17
Physio-Control divestiture-related costs	0		(5)		0		(8)
Earnings from discontinued operations	0		7		0		9
Net earnings	$ 646		$ 871		$ 1,510		$ 1,692
Basic earnings per share:
Earnings from continuing operations	$ 0.63		$ 0.82		$ 1.47		$ 1.59
Net earnings	$ 0.63	[1]	$ 0.82	[1]	$ 1.47	[1]	$ 1.60	[1]
Diluted earnings per share:
Earnings from continuing operations	$ 0.63		$ 0.81		$ 1.46		$ 1.58
Net earnings	$ 0.63		$ 0.82		$ 1.46		$ 1.59
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	1,019.4		1,058.1		1,024.4		1,060.6
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	1,027.8		1,063.1		1,032.2		1,066.2
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.2600		$ 0.2425		$ 0.5200		$ 0.4850

[1] All earnings per share amounts have been rounded to the nearest $0.01, and therefore, may not sum.